White Christmas with Chords...

[Anterix]

Me trying to play White Christmas on the Bass with Chords.

Please comment!

Merry Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4miaRoSqH3A

[Jake of Bass]

Not sure if this the correct forum for this topic but well done anyways.

[Anterix]

I placed it here because I am trying to get comments and opinions on how to get better...

[Deacon_Blues]

Nice chord movements.

I only think the timing was too "free", especially in the first half but also in the other half. There's nothing wrong with playing rubato, but the tempo changes should be derived from what sounds good musically and not from what's technically harder or easier to play. Now it often sounds like it is the latter case.

Try playing the piece in steady time with a metronome until you have that down well also when not playing with a metronome, and then, put in tempo changes to taste.

In the second half, I'd try to make the bassline more fluent, like steady half notes root-fifth with occasional quarter notes (walking) thrown in here and there. Sacrifice the chord rather than the bassline (if any of them needs to be sacrificed), because the bassline is what keeps the song together and makes it enjoyable to listen to.

Just my two cents, meant as constructive criticism.

[Anterix]

I agree with all you say.

I am working to make it more fluent and you gave me great advice.

Thank you very much!

[jmccain]

For what it's worth, I concur with improving the tempo and rhythm. I really enjoyed your performance!

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Nice chord movements.

I only think the timing was too "free", especially in the first half but also in the other half. There's nothing wrong with playing rubato, but the tempo changes should be derived from what sounds good musically and not from what's technically harder or easier to play. Now it often sounds like it is the latter case.

Try playing the piece in steady time with a metronome until you have that down well also when not playing with a metronome, and then, put in tempo changes to taste.

In the second half, I'd try to make the bassline more fluent, like steady half notes root-fifth with occasional quarter notes (walking) thrown in here and there. Sacrifice the chord rather than the bassline (if any of them needs to be sacrificed), because the bassline is what keeps the song together and makes it enjoyable to listen to.

Just my two cents, meant as constructive criticism.

+1 I would say think about using inversions or passing chords to add movement for long melody notes. Don't need to be as dense the listeners ear will hold sounds so you can move. Especially the second half the bass line is going to carry a lot so only need to occasional drop in a double stop or chord and can even shorten the melody notes.

Again need to work on time, doesn't have to be perfect, but needs to flow. Last work on the string squeaks some. I know they can be tough to deal with but light touch when moving or right hand muting.

Sounds good you have a good feel for solo bass keep up the good work. Have you posted over in the Todd Johnson area of TB he is a master of solo bass. Check some his video and how he uses a looping pedal to lay down the bass line to open up what he can do with chords and melody.